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Lifting of the completed dome is well within the capacity of a hired
telescopic lift. They can lift tons and I'm not seeing more than 300kg
for the complete and modified dome. 220kg bare, as supplied. Lifting height is an issue and the machine must have the necessary range. Including the considerable depth and convex curve of the dome and any free length of thr hanging strops.
Making
the dome modification on the ground is the safe and far more sensible option. Though I have no personal experience of
driving one of these telescopic lifting machines. It would also need to be driven 20 miles
in total. Much of it along narrow, rural lanes. My neighbour is skilled
with many similar machines and tractors so might be willing to help with
the actual lift. The old dome could be lifted down in one go but can also be manually lowered as manageable segments.
It would be possible to lift the complete dome onto a larger base ring by supporting it [temporarily] off the veranda. The joists are just below and can easily manage the weight spread over the old building's footprint. It just needs some props off the veranda joists up to the roller base ring. The ground posts can be added later. Or just the two or three posts in the SW-Western arc. Where the new footprint overhangs the most.
Alternatively, I could ignore the existing building posts and build a ring of new posts. Just outside the old building, but offset to the west to match the new footprint. This would place it nearer the shed but would not impact the old building. Which could be partially disassembled once the new dome is safely supported. I'd still need to expand the [self compacting] gravel pad for the western and northern arc of new foundation blocks.
Despite everything, the new dome will cost a very small fraction of the retail price of a commercial dome in the size I am contemplating. 4.5-5m domes seem to cost £20k+! Given the price I have been quoted for home delivery of a 2.7m Pulsar dome and base ring only, I can install an entire 4.4m dome for not much more than the delivery charge. From the sole European, Pulsar dealer, next door in Germany.
That
did not even include erection on site. Just a pallet dropped somewhere
on the 200m drive from a ridiculously large and expensive lorry. If it
couldn't reach our gate then I would have to find a way to carry all the
Pulsar dome sections the length of the drive myself. Thank goodness I
didn't buckle and go ahead. Ending up with a dome which was far too
small for my refractors anyway.
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